Very active 8 month old

[Dormouselike]

I have a very wriggly 8 month old DS. He's into everything, very curious and very, very active. He's not into sitting still and not much of a babbler yet. He thinks books are good for chewing and pulling off shelves. My mum decided a while ago that he won't be very academic. Today she told me she doesn't think he'll be much of a reader. I think, he's a baby, and who knows whether he'll be a reader or not, but let's not decide that for him now! What do you think - is she onto something? Do other 8 month olds sit still and have books read to them? Does a very active baby become a child who won't sit quietly and isn't academic?

Hi OP. Have one exactly like that! Mine is also very alert, aka not a sleeper...! Doing lots of mobility stuff but babbling etc non existent and reading a nice bedtime story is a wriggle-athon! I let her then the pages and try not to get disheartened that she not interested in listening to my voice etc. Try not to worry.

Thanks @Catheroo that's reassuring. We've given bedtime stories a rest for a while as they just make him more awake!

Hi OO good luck. Just to say today I bought the book Dear Zoo and DD loves it. Might be the first time but the flaps helped keep her attention and she even copied the lion roar noise I made!

my aon is very overactive and noticed this when he was a newborn ever and every month went by he became more and more active by 5 months no one wantid to hold him because he was jumping and wriggling and climbing all over you, he hated sleep he was honestly so exhasting and took first steps at 8 months by a few days after turning. 10 months he mastered walking and started to run at 11 months hes 14 months now and doesnt stop running but still hates to sleep but having said this the only way he will sit still is if i read to him or play puzzles with him otherwise i cant get him to sit with me or just sit down in general for more than 10 seconds. but this is no indication at all that he will be smart hes advanced with speech and puzzle ability and sports but this is no indication at all that hell be advanced forever. i worked in a school with nurcery reception year 1 and 2 i saw children going from lowest set to the highest and from highest straight down to lowest. honestly children develop so quickly and just over summer you can see how sone children have just developed so much and some at stand still. like right now my sons learnight at a fast pace but mabey in 2 months itll slow down even today it cold stop and be at a standstill for a month. honestly babies and children are unpredictable. i mean you can tell obviously who does puzzles and reads and shows flashcards to there children and who dont and i would definitely encourage you to read every day to him and make it cery engaging, babies love animals so stick to animal books and make funny animal noises and funny voices. all babies have sonething specific they concentrate on so motor skills or listening or speech or active and some babble in two or all, your son might be just focused on one particular thing which is active, so what you dont want to do is force him to sit so you could just be on the floor and just read and he might just come nd join just as long as he knows the books are fun. dont take anything to heart and dont compare babies. i have 12 nephews and nieces the smartest of them all was the latest at walking, the most cretive had secere speech delay, the best reader didnt even say mum until 2 and a half years old, the best speaker is the slowest reader and has the worst concentration. working at a school and having 12 nephews and nieces under 7 i can honestly tell you that what your mum is saying is 100% not true and has no proof behind it. i would also suggest to read the same 4 books over and over to him its better for there learning and id also suggest to now start showing him a simple shape sorter and tower ring... he probably wont attempt to do it by himself until 1 yo but i would just show him how to do it every day if u can. just because they cant physically do it doesnt mean tht they dont mentaly know how to or have an understanding of it. just dont worry and enjoy him playing with him is the best learning experience hell ever have. x

Thanks @enidlowrij - it's good to have some reassurance. I do read to him laying on the floor and he'll stay to chew the book or try to flip the pages over for a bit. I'll try to chill out and just let him do his thing!